Whether through our naming rights to the Bridgestone Arena in the heart of downtown Nashville to creating new platforms with partners that align with our E8 Commitment, leveraging our partnerships to demonstrate our commitment to the communities where we move, live, work and play is foundational to our brand strategy here at Bridgestone Americas. As we look ahead to the future of Bridgestone as a sustainable solutions company powering the future of mobility, we are seeking a leader to help ensure our sports and partnership portfolio evolves in sync with our business and brand strategy.
The Director, Partnership Marketing leads the strategy, vision, and activation of the Bridgestone Americas Sports & Partnership portfolio, including our Global Olympic and Paralympic partnership. Whether it is working with team partners to activate our Bridgestone brand in a way that creates access to opportunities for underserved youth within a local community, growing our roster of Team Bridgestone ambassadors, or bringing the spirit of our Firestone brand to life through music, this role is responsible for ensuring the way in which we select and activate our portfolio of partnerships evolves with the future vision of Bridgestone and our What Really Matters brand platform.
As a member of the Marketing Center of Excellence, reporting to the CMO, this role leads a team of two and serves as a senior marketing leader across the function. In this highly visible role, you will serve as the face of Bridgestone Americas for a variety of internal and external boards and committees. You will also have frequent interactions with our senior leadership, including the C-Suite, key customers, agencies and external partners.
** This position has the option to be a remote opportunity **
Responsibilities
Essential Responsibilities:
Connect Partnerships with Brand and Business: In close collaboration with the Brand COE, set vision and strategy for Bridgestone Americas sports and partnership marketing team and portfolio of properties and sponsorships that aligns to the new direction for our brand and the vision for our company’s future. Lead hospitality, customer engagement and talent/athlete strategy across all partnerships. Oversee creation and tracking of sponsorship measurement and analytics, including establishing program KPIs and demonstrating strong return on investment.
Cultivate Relationships to Create and Deliver Value: Develop key initiatives to execute activation programs and asset utilization, working cross-functionally across Bridgestone’s partnerships in collaboration with a variety of teams including content, media, DE&I, and business marketing teams.
Be the Face of Bridgestone: Own and manage the account relationships across all current and future partnerships including but not limited to PGA Tour, the Olympic and Paralympic family of relationships (International Olympic and Paralympic Committee, US Olympic and Paralympic Properties, Canadian Olympic Committee, partner NGBs, other NOCs, and International Federations), multiple US and Canadian NHL teams and players, multiple NFL teams and players, the Nashville Predators and naming rights team at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville sounds, the Nashville Sports Council and Music City Bowl.
Demonstrate Inspirational Leadership: Coach, develop and provide management direction to team responsible for execution of partnership programs including contract negotiation, asset delivery, brand and marketing activation, media support, talent/athlete management, hospitality planning and operations, ticket management, merchandise and wearables, and agency management. Manage direct budget and partner with appropriate key partners on associated contractually required spend commitments.
B.S in marketing, communications, business administration or related discipline, 8+ years of relevant experience including 5+ years management or leadership experience
Master’s degree; 6+ years of relevant experience including 4-5 years management or leadership experience
10+ years of sports marketing, music and multi-cultural partnership experience a strong plus
Agency management experience, including a strong understanding of the agency ecosystem
Ability to build followership and influence actions to coordinate activity across broad cross-business-unit, cross-functional stakeholder groups without direct authority
Outstanding communication skills and executive presence, including fluency in the languages of business and marketing, and the ability to effectively communicate with executive leadership
Unique ability to balance analytical rigor with a bias for action - with a predisposition to produce fast, practical recommendations.
Strong ability to recruit diverse, dynamic talent, with experience in people management.
Experience working in matrixed organizations where leadership through influence was a demonstrated skill.
B2B and B2C experience preferred
